Day 7: Waiting for Our Souls to Catch Up

African legend has it that a very powerful Englishman and his assistants were exploring the heart in Africa in search of wealth and treasures. A number of native porters had been hired to carry their baggage and all things needed for the English party to set up camp each night. The first day’s travels went well. The second day, the Englishman ordered the native porters to move even more quickly. The third day he demanded they move even faster. The fourth day, no matter what the Englishman said or demanded the native porters declined to move. Finally on of the porters stated, “We are moving too fast we must wait for our souls to catch up with us before we can go further. ”

Have you ever felt like that. Like you were constantly pushing to try to get something done and became more drained and less able to focus by the minute. For me that feels like I need to pause to wait for my soul to catch up.

Uncluttering your life is a marathon not a sprint. If you unclutter you life in less than 31 days, congratulations. If it takes a year or more that is ok too. It’s the progress, the positive direction that counts. This – or any other project for that matter – is not worth leaving you drained and exhausted. The purpose of this is to help get you in control, energized and focused – not the opposite. Listen to your body, your spirit, your soul. Trust your inner wisdom. What do you need?

Waiting for Our Souls to Catch Up

Don’t give up and throw your hands up because this isn’t going to work or it’s too hard. Or you’ve tried uncluttering and it didn’t work then so it won’t work now. Assess your energy level. Slow and steady wins the race. Saving time for play and friends is also important. Tonight I’m going to focus on my email clutter – over 19,000 emails – many that could and should be easily deleted and others that can go into folders. I’ll watch a movie on Netflix or maybe I’ll just take a break and do nothing. Maybe it’s just time for me to pause and let my soul catch up.

Note: I have heard this story, Waiting for Our Souls to Catch Up, in many varieties and don’t know its origin. If you know more about this story please contact me. I’d love to know.